At Qin Bo's words, everyone froze.
Zhou Ruixue looked even more anxious as she said:
"Young Master Qin, you... why go this far? We only just met, so some misunderstandings are inevitable. Once we've spent more time together, things will naturally get better."
Qin Bo shook his head slightly, his expression resolute. "Miss Zhou, thank you for thinking of me. But those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Though I, Qin Bo, come from an ordinary background, I have my own pride."
With that, Qin Bo cupped his hands slightly toward everyone, turned around, and prepared to leave.
Seeing this, Young Master Li let out a cold snort. "Hmph, why pretend to be so high and mighty? Good riddance. At least he won't be an eyesore here."
Lin Yu wanted to speak up and persuade him to stay.
But seeing Qin Bo's determined stride, Lin Yu knew that saying more would be useless and could only sigh inwardly.
Zhou Ruixue watched Qin Bo's retreating figure as he swept away, her heart burning with anxiety.
She knew very well that Qin Bo's strength was extraordinary—and he was someone she had brought here herself.
Letting Qin Bo be insulted for no reason left her feeling guilty as well.
"Young Master Qin, please wait!"
Zhou Ruixue hurried after him and grabbed Qin Bo's sleeve in the corridor.
Qin Bo stopped and turned to look at Zhou Ruixue, a trace of helplessness in his eyes.
"Miss Zhou, why are you still trying to stop me? I've already made my stance clear. It would be difficult for me to get along with them."
Zhou Ruixue said anxiously, "Young Master Qin, I understand the grievance in your heart. This whole matter is my fault."
"I had no idea Li Yao would target you like that."
Qin Bo smiled faintly and waved his hand.
"It's fine, Miss Zhou. This has nothing to do with you. Besides, I never felt that I needed to get to know anyone else. On the path of martial arts, I am enough on my own."
Seeing the determination in Qin Bo's expression, Zhou Ruixue grew even more anxious.
"Young Master Qin, the path of martial arts may require individual perseverance, but what we face now isn't merely a difficulty in cultivation."
"The Demon Suppressing Division's examination involves many factions, and Yunzhou City is about to face a crisis from the Netherworld. Relying on one person's strength alone will be far too difficult."
Qin Bo knew that Zhou Ruixue wasn't wrong, but he was proud and aloof by nature. After suffering such contempt, he truly wasn't willing to force himself to stay.
"Miss Zhou, I appreciate your kindness. But I've made up my mind."
"Those things you mentioned are nothing more than a few stones blocking my path. As long as my strength is sufficient, everything can be flattened."
Zhou Ruixue gazed at Qin Bo, her eyes full of worry.
"That may be true, Young Master Qin, but the world is treacherous, and countless schemes and stratagems are impossible to guard against. Even if your strength is peerless, two fists still can't defeat four hands."
Qin Bo smiled faintly, and his smile carried a resolute confidence.
If he were alone, he might still have some worries.
But who was he?!
What a joke—he was a man with a cheat!
Everything before him was no more than a dreamlike illusion or a bubble.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be worthy of his cheat!
Qin Bo then said:
"Miss Zhou, I understand your concern. But the path of cultivation is inherently a struggle against Heaven and against people."
"If I shrink back merely because of other people's opinions and unknown schemes, then how could I speak of pursuing the pinnacle of martial arts? I believe that as long as I keep making myself stronger, the clouds will eventually part and the sun will shine through."
"All fear comes from insufficient strength!"
At last, Qin Bo uttered this profound maxim, then turned and left.
Behind him, Zhou Ruixue watched his departing figure without moving for a long while.
"So this is your confidence?!"
"Young Master Qin, is this your martial path?"
After leaving, Qin Bo unexpectedly encountered Old Taoist Songhe and the other two in the martial arena.
"Seniors, tomorrow night is the Full Moon Night. How are your preparations going?"
"Nothing to worry about. The city and its surroundings have been calm. It seems the Netherworld won't make any moves. After all, this extremely ominous thing has been suppressed for decades."
"That's right. We only need to wait until tomorrow night. Once the seal is restored, it can be suppressed for several more years."
"Good."
Qin Bo nodded.
He certainly didn't want this extremely ominous thing to be rescued. Its lifespan was fixed here, waiting for him to grow powerful enough to come and collect it himself.
An eerie being of the "Fierce" level surely had no shortage of lifespan.
"All right, kid. Don't go running around tomorrow night. Once the sealing formation is activated, no one is allowed to leave."
Old Taoist Song warned him, and the group quickly left the City Lord's Mansion.
After seeing Old Taoist Songhe and the others off, Qin Bo returned to his room in the City Lord's Mansion and began considering his plans.
There was still some time before tomorrow night's sealing ceremony.
Yet he desperately wanted to increase his strength. After all, the situation that was about to unfold was filled with variables.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and circulated his current cultivation method, feeling his blood-and-qi power slowly flow through his meridians.
However, with his current cultivation method, his cultivation speed was truly too slow.
Achieving a qualitative leap in such a short time was practically impossible.
"Looks like I need to take the examination as soon as possible and obtain a new cultivation method."
Qin Bo muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, at the banquet.
After seeing Qin Bo off, Zhou Ruixue returned once more.
"Miss Zhou, why are you still going out of your way to seek out such a commoner?"
Li Yao spoke rudely as usual.
Zhou Ruixue clearly didn't want to discuss the matter any further.
"Yes, Miss Zhou. As the City Lord's daughter, please guide us in the future."
Li Yao was the first to flatter her, acting like a completely different person from the way he had treated Qin Bo earlier.
The others also joined in with their flattery, while only the white-robed Young Master frowned slightly, though he couldn't say anything.
Zhou Ruixue mocked them inwardly, but her face still wore a radiant smile as she drank and chatted merrily with everyone.
After the drinking session ended, Zhou Ruixue returned to her room.
She sat before the window and gazed at the night sky, her thoughts in turmoil.
Tonight, she had finally seen through people like Li Yao, who changed with the wind.
As for the white-robed Young Master, Lin Yu, his attitude had been courteous from beginning to end.
Early the next morning, the area around Yunzhou City's gates was packed with people.
They had brought their entire families, hoping to flee the city.
But the City Guards blocked them at the gate.
"Open the gate! I have to go visit my relatives!"
An anxious middle-aged man shouted, bringing his family of five.
"That's right! My grandmother passed away. We need to go handle her funeral arrangements. What do you mean by blocking the road?"
A young wife held a child in her arms and wailed noisily, with two elderly people following behind her.
"Bring the City Lord out! Why are you blocking our way? You owe us an explanation!"
Someone in the crowd led the uproar, and the people's emotions grew increasingly agitated as the scene gradually spiraled out of control.
Zhou Hao, the commander of the City Guards, sat astride his horse with a stern expression and shouted loudly:
"Folks, we truly apologize. But the City Lord has ordered that the situation in the city has been unstable these past few days. For everyone's safety, no one may leave the city for now. We hope you can understand."
"Understand? Understand my ass! We've lived in this city for most of our lives. What danger could there be? You're deliberately making things difficult for us!"
A hot-tempered burly man roared, then charged forward.
Before you continue